HATBORO, Pa., Oct. 30, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") (Nasdaq:FXCB), the holding company for Fox Chase Bank (the "Bank"), today announced third quarter net income of $455,000 compared to net income of $1.0 million for the third quarter of 2006. The third quarter 2006 earnings included a credit to the provision for loan losses of $2.8 million and a $1.5 million contribution to the Fox Chase Bank Charitable Foundation. These two items, net of taxes, increased earnings by approximately $850,000 during the third quarter 2006.
The Company reported net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 of $1.6 million. The nine months ended September 30, 2006 reflects increased earnings of $1.1 million, net of taxes, from a $3.2 million credit to the provision for loan losses and the $1.5 million charitable contribution. The nine months ended September 30, 2007 includes $577,000, net of tax, increased earnings from a gain on the sale of the Bank's operations center. Earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $0.03 and $0.11, respectively. Due to the timing of the Bank's conversion into the mutual holding company form of organization in September 2006, the Company's prior period earnings per share are not applicable.
Highlights included:
* Loans grew to $422.4 million, representing a $66.8 million, or
18.8%, increase from December 31, 2006. Loans grew by $15.6
million since June 30, 2007, representing an annualized growth
rate of 15.3%.
* The net interest margin improved during the quarter ended
September 30, 2007 to 2.72% compared to 2.21% for the quarter
ended September 30, 2006, and 2.50% for the quarter ended June
30, 2007.
* Asset quality remains strong; there were no significant charge
offs during the quarter and non-performing assets were 0.07% of
total assets at September 30, 2007.
* The opening of the Bank's tenth full-service branch in West
Chester, Pennsylvania to serve the Chester County market.
* The completion of the previously announced purchase of common
stock in the open market to fund the Company's equity incentive
plan. The Company established a Trust which purchased 287,500
shares at an average price of $13.02 between September 14, 2007
and October 12, 2007.
Balance Sheet
Total assets decreased $11.6 million, or 1.5%, to $745.4 million at September 30, 2007, compared to $757.0 million at December 31, 2006. The reduction in assets was comprised of a decrease of $100.4 million in cash and cash equivalents and a decrease of $24.7 million in mortgage related securities. Offsetting these decreases was a $66.8 million increase in loans, driven primarily by a $68.5 million increase in commercial, commercial real estate and construction loans, and a $48.4 million increase in investment securities available-for-sale, as the Company purchased $56.2 million of liquid Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency bonds during the quarter, which pricing resets monthly, and had a weighted average rate of 6.12% at September 30, 2007. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents and mortgage related securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 is consistent with the Bank's strategy of utilizing excess cash and funds from the liquidation of lower yielding mortgage-backed securities to fund commercial, commercial real estate and construction loan growth. Deposits decreased $11.9 million, or 2.0%, from $596.5 million at December 31, 2006 to $584.6 million at September 30, 2007. The Bank is located in a highly competitive deposit market which, combined with the flat to inverted yield curve, has created a difficult climate for gathering deposits cost effectively.
Asset Quality
Nonperforming assets totaled $521,000, or 0.07% of total assets, at September 30, 2007 compared to $3.2 million, or 0.43% of total assets, at December 31, 2006. During the three months ended December 31, 2006, a loan totaling $2.9 million went past its contractual maturity and was included in the accruing loans past due 90 days or more category of nonperforming assets. The Bank extended the maturity on this loan in the first quarter of 2007, and therefore removed it as a nonperforming asset. The property collateralizing this loan is under an agreement of sale and is expected to be sold during the quarter ended December 31, 2007.
The Bank does not engage in subprime lending programs. It manages its risk profile to maintain a high quality loan portfolio. While some of the Bank's markets have experienced declining residential property values due to slowing activity in the housing markets and an increase in inventory, the Bank does not expect a significant impact on the collateral values of its residential mortgage portfolio. Additionally, the Bank has adapted to this environment by tightening certain underwriting standards and scrutinizing collateral values for loans secured by residential properties.
Net Interest Margin
Net interest income increased $1.0 million, or 26.6%, and $1.9 million, or 16.1%, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006. The Company's net interest margin was 2.72% for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to 2.21% for the comparable period in 2006. These improvements reflect the Bank's increase of higher-yielding commercial, commercial real estate and construction loans funded with the proceeds from liquidation of lower-yielding securities, an increase in the volume of interest-earning assets generated by the proceeds received in the Company's initial public offering and an increase in noninterest bearing deposits. Offsetting these improvements were higher costs associated with retail certificates of deposits and money market accounts during the three months ended September 30, 2007 when compared to the rates of such deposits for the same period in 2006 due primarily to strong pricing competition.
Provision for Loan Losses
The provision for loan losses was $125,000 and $200,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, reflecting continued growth in the loan portfolio and a shift in the mix of the loan portfolio to commercial-type loans which typically have higher levels of risk. The Company recorded a credit to the provision for loan losses of $2.8 million and $3.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, which was a result of: (1) a reduction in criticized and classified assets, (2) a decrease in the size of the loan portfolio and (3) the absence of charge-offs in the portfolio during that period.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income decreased $49,000, or 11.2%, and increased $625,000, or 43.1%, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006. The decrease for the three months ended September 30, 2007 was primarily a result of the Company discontinuing selling residential mortgage loans, which represented $69,000 of noninterest income in the three months ended September 30, 2006. The increase in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was a result of the Bank recognizing a pre-tax gain of $874,000 on the sale of its operations center in the second quarter of 2007. This gain was offset by a reduction in service charges and other fee income of $108,000 between comparable nine-month periods, as the Bank modified its fee policies related to customer deposit accounts, and a decrease in other non-interest income of $78,000 between nine-month periods.
Noninterest Expense
Noninterest expense decreased $1.1 million, or 18.9%, and decreased $952,000, or 6.5%, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006. As previously noted, the comparable 2006 periods included the contribution expense of $1.5 million to the Fox Chase Bank Charitable Foundation. Excluding the charitable contribution, noninterest expense increased $420,000, or 10.0%, and $548,000, or 4.2%, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007. The largest change for the periods presented was an increase in salaries and benefits expense of $279,000, or 12.6%, and $619,000, or 9.5%, respectively for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007. The increase in the three months ended September 30, 2007 was primarily due to one month of expense of $79,000 associated with the Company's 2007 Equity Incentive Plan which awards were granted on August 31, 2007, adoption of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") in September 2006 and general compensation increases. The increase in the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was primarily due to the hiring of a team of experienced commercial lenders and commercial credit staff in the spring of 2006 and adoption of the previously mentioned ESOP in September 2006. The increase to noninterest expense was also due to: (1) an increase in professional fees of $134,000 and $351,000, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 primarily associated with being a public entity, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and exploring strategic initiatives, and (2) an increase in occupancy costs of $96,000 and $239,000, respectively for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 related to the addition of the Bank's Marmora, New Jersey branch office in March 2006, the opening of two loan production offices in Media and Exton, Pennsylvania in the second quarter of 2006, and costs associated with the Company's newly leased operations center in the second quarter of 2007.
The increased costs were offset by a decrease in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance premiums of $51,000 and $663,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, primarily due to the lifting of the Bank's Office of Thrift Supervision Cease and Desist Order on June 28, 2006, as well as a decrease in other expense associated with a charge taken during the second quarter 2006 of $232,000 related to a write-off of an error for reconciling transactions in our automated teller machines system.
Income Taxes
The Company's effective income tax rate was 16.5% and 26.3% for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and 20.9% and 14.4% for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. These rates reflect the Company's levels of tax-exempt income for the 2007 periods relative to the overall level of taxable income.
Thomas Petro, President and CEO of the Company said, "We are extremely pleased with our performance during this quarter. It demonstrates that our strategies to increase loans and improve the margin, despite the difficult market conditions for deposits, are working. Our net interest margin has increased and our credit quality has improved. We opened our tenth full service branch in West Chester, Pennsylvania to serve the growing Chester County market and support our highly experienced business lending and cash management teams operating in that market."
Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. is the mid-tier stock holding company of Fox Chase Bank. The Bank is a federally chartered savings bank originally established in 1867 celebrating its 140th year of business. The Bank offers traditional banking services and products from its main office in Hatboro, Pennsylvania and ten branch offices in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania and Atlantic and Cape May Counties in New Jersey. For more information, please visit the Bank's website at www.foxchasebank.com.
The Fox Chase Bancorp, Inc. logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4080
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words like "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate" and "intend" or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could" or "may." Statements in this release that are not strictly historical are forward-looking and are based upon current expectations that may differ materially from actual results. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the statements made herein. These risks and uncertainties involve general economic trends, changes in interest rates, loss of deposits and loan demand to other financial institutions, substantial changes in financial markets; changes in real estate value and the real estate market, regulatory changes, possibility of unforeseen events affecting the industry generally, the uncertainties associated with newly developed or acquired operations, the outcome of pending litigation, and market disruptions and other effects of terrorist activities. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
----------------- -----------------
2007 2006 2007 2006
------- ------- ------- -------
INTEREST INCOME
Interest and fees on loans $ 6,746 $ 5,248 $18,338 $15,916
Interest on mortgage related
securities 1,657 2,047 5,187 6,081
Interest on investment
securities available-
for-sale:
Taxable 905 953 1,813 2,913
Non-taxable 205 245 709 690
Dividend income 61 61 189 312
Other interest income 1,019 552 3,970 1,085
------- ------- ------- -------
Total Interest Income 10,593 9,106 30,206 26,997
------- ------- ------- -------
INTEREST EXPENSE
Deposits 5,309 4,850 15,322 14,028
Federal Home Loan Bank
advances 375 378 1,111 1,111
------- ------- ------- -------
Total Interest Expense 5,684 5,228 16,433 15,139
------- ------- ------- -------
Net Interest Income 4,909 3,878 13,773 11,858
Provision (Credit) for
loan losses 125 (2,778) 200 (3,161)
------- ------- ------- -------
Net Interest Income after
Provision (Credit) for
Loan Losses 4,784 6,656 13,573 15,019
------- ------- ------- -------
NONINTEREST INCOME
Service charges and other
fee income 204 203 623 731
Net gain (loss) on sale of:
Loans -- 69 73 103
Assets acquired through
foreclosure -- -- -- 85
Fixed assets -- (5) 874 (6)
Securities 19 -- 19 (18)
Income on bank-owned life
insurance 111 108 327 318
Other 53 61 160 238
------- ------- ------- -------
Total Noninterest Income 387 436 2,076 1,451
------- ------- ------- -------
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries, benefits and other
compensation 2,485 2,206 7,154 6,535
Occupancy expense 475 379 1,354 1,115
Furniture and equipment
expense 230 236 712 644
Data processing costs 388 374 1,149 1,090
Professional fees 460 326 1,445 1,094
Marketing expense 152 199 449 440
FDIC premiums 20 71 62 725
Contribution to charitable
foundation -- 1,500 -- 1,500
Other 416 415 1,300 1,434
------- ------- ------- -------
Total Noninterest Expense 4,626 5,706 13,625 14,577
------- ------- ------- -------
Income Before Income Taxes 545 1,386 2,024 1,893
Income tax provision 90 365 424 273
------- ------- ------- -------
Net Income $ 455 $ 1,021 $ 1,600 $ 1,620
======= ======= ======= =======
Earnings per share (1):
Basic $ 0.03 -- $ 0.11 --
Diluted $ 0.03 -- $ 0.11 --
(1) Due to the timing of the Bank's reorganization into the mutual
holding company form and the completion of the Company's initial
public offering on September 29, 2006, earnings per share
information for the three and nine months ended September 30,
2006 is not applicable.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share Data)
Sept. 30, Dec. 31,
2007 2006
-------- --------
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks $ 2,483 $ 3,295
Interest-earning demand deposits
in other banks 31,537 131,146
-------- --------
Total cash and cash equivalents 34,020 134,441
Investment securities available-for-sale 118,525 70,112
Mortgage related securities available-for-sale 133,665 158,320
Loans held for sale -- 1,194
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of
$3,150 at September 30, 2007 and $2,949 at
December 31, 2006 422,418 355,617
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost 3,972 4,422
Bank-owned life insurance 11,651 11,324
Premises and equipment 14,866 14,287
Accrued interest and dividends receivable 3,025 3,397
Mortgage servicing rights 1,087 1,177
Deferred tax asset, net 617 1,087
Other assets 1,515 1,607
-------- --------
Total Assets $745,361 $756,985
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Deposits $584,594 $596,534
Federal Home Loan Bank advances 30,000 30,000
Advances from borrowers for taxes
and insurance 1,273 2,262
Accrued interest payable 327 298
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 2,092 2,246
-------- --------
Total Liabilities 618,286 631,340
-------- --------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred stock ($0.01 par value;
1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued
and outstanding at September 30, 2007 or
December 31, 2006) -- --
Common stock ($0.01 par value;
35,000,000 shares authorized,
14,679,750 shares issued and outstanding
at September 30, 2007 and
December 31, 2006) 147 147
Additional paid-in capital 62,650 62,365
Common stock acquired by stock benefit plans (6,457) (5,371)
Retained earnings 71,145 69,545
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net (410) (1,041)
-------- --------
Total Stockholders' Equity 127,075 125,645
-------- --------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $745,361 $756,985
======== ========
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND
OTHER DATA OF THE COMPANY
(UNAUDITED)
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
Sept. 30, Dec. 31, Sept. 30,
2007 2006 2006
--------- --------- ---------
CAPITAL RATIOS(1):
Tier 1 capital (to adjusted assets) 12.98% 12.49% 11.99%
Tier 1 risk -based capital (to
risk-weighted assets) 23.30 26.79 26.06
Total risk-based capital (to
risk-weighted assets) 24.06 27.62 26.91
ASSET QUALITY INDICATORS:
Nonperforming assets:
Nonaccruing loans $ 521 $ 284 $ 2,802
Accruing loans past due
90 days or more -- 2,941 1,802
--------- --------- ---------
Total nonperforming loans 521 3,225 4,604
Real estate owned -- -- --
--------- --------- ---------
Total nonperforming assets $ 521 $ 3,225 $ 4,604
========= ========= =========
Ratio of nonperforming loans
to total loans 0.12% 0.90% 1.28%
========= ========= =========
Ratio of nonperforming loans
to total assets 0.07% 0.43% 0.60%
========= ========= =========
Ratio of allowance for
loan losses to total loans 0.74% 0.82% 1.45%
========= ========= =========
At or for the three months ended:
Sept. 30, June 30, Sept. 30,
2007 2007 2006
--------- --------- ---------
PERFORMANCE RATIOS:
Return on average assets (2) 0.24% 0.45% 0.56%
Return on average equity (2) 1.44 2.69 6.29
Net interest margin (2) 2.72 2.50 2.21
OTHER:
Book value per share $ 8.66 $ 8.63 8.37
Employees (full-time equivalents) 139 141 148
At or for the nine months ended:
September 30,
--------------------------
2007 2006
-------- -------
PERFORMANCE RATIOS:
Return on average assets (2) 0.28% 0.29%
Return on average equity (2) 1.69 3.38
Net interest margin (2) 2.55 2.21
(1) Represents capital ratios at Fox Chase Bank
(2) Annualized